Rotary engine.



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No. 728,536. PATENTED MAY 19, 190s.

'G. P. BREED 46 B. L. HAWN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

AfPLIOATIOH mum 0M. 22. 190:. no MODEL. 4 sums-4111mm 2.

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No. 728,536. PATENTED. MAY 19, 1903.

' .G. P. BREED & E. L. HAWN.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOAHQi FILED 001. 22. 1902. v

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10 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

LITHCL. wnsmusmn D c No. 728,536. PATENTED MAY 19,1903.

G. P. BREED & E. L. HAWN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

, APPLIGATION FILED OUT. 22. 1902.

no MODEL 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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" UNITED STATES PATENT Patented May 19, 1903.

OFFICE.

GEORGE" P. BREED, OF ROOKELM, AND EDD L. HAWN, or OLIVE'I, I WISCONSIN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SEEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 728,536, dated May 19,1903. Application filed October 22,1902. Serial No. 128,267. (N model.)

. To all whom it may concern/ Be it known that we, GEORGE P. BREED, aresident of Rockelm, and EDD L, HAWN, a resident of Olivet, in thecounty of Piercev and State of Wisconsin, citizens of the United States,have invented a new and Improved Rotary Engine, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description. V

This invention relates to a-rotary engine comprising, broadly stated,acasing forming a circular passage equivalent to the engine cylinder,and through the casing-passes centrally the engine-shaft. In the saidcylinder are arranged two pistons carried on disks loose on theengine-shaft. These disks c oact' with clutch devices, which when thedisk moves in one direction connects the piston with the shaft and whenthe disk starts to move in the other direction connects the piston withthe casing, and thus stops the move ment of the piston. These pistonsare at v ranged face to face, andeach occupies the entirecross-sectional area of the cylinder, so that of course they cannot passeach other. In the operation of the engine steam is ad- 'mitted betweenthe two pistons and tends to" force them through the cylinder inopposite:

directions. The clutches of the two pistons work oppositely, however,and therefore when the steam presses the pistons apart the clutch of theone piston connects it with the cylinder, while'the clutch of the secondpiston counects said second piston with the shaft. The steam then forcesthe second-named through the cylinder,'while the first-named, pistonacts as an abutment. complete movement has been made by the second-namedpiston, steam is again admitted, this steam tending again to spread'thepistons from each other. place, the second-named piston, owing to thechange in its movemenuthen becomes fast on the cylinder, while thefirst-named piston,

formerly acting as an abutment, is, now connected with the'e'ngine-shaftand sweeps through thecylinder,tl 1usimpartingits movement thereto. Itwill be observed that by means of this arrangement the engine-shaft isgiven a step-by-step movement by a ratchetlike action of the pistons andclutches and lines 5 5,6 6, and 7 7 ofFig. 1. viewfof the exhaust sideof the engine, showpiston W'hen a nearly- When this takes I that owingto the peculiar arrangement of the parts this movement is formed ofimpulses so rapidly successive that the rotation of the engine-shaft ispractically c0ntinuous,involv-' ing no crank movement and the vibrationincident thereto.

This specification is an exact description of one example of ourinvention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

" Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a partofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

" Figure 1 is an elevational view of the engine with the casing partlybroken away and showing the st'eam-feed-valve devices and the clutchmechanism at the steam-feed side of the engine. Fig. 2 is an inner faceview of the disk at the exhaust side of the engine.

' Fig. 3 is an elevational view illustrating the interior of the engineat the exhaust side. Fig. 4 is an inner face view of.the disk havingthesteam-feed-valve devices. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are respectively sectionalviews on the Fig. 8 is a ing part of the casing broken away to dis,close the exhaust-valve devices; and Fig. 9

is a detail viewof the arm and clutchfor turning over the engine.

10 indicates the base of the engine, and 11 the engine-casing, whichisjcircular in form and has at its peripheryan enlarged portion forminaoircular 'assa ell which asabove stated, constitutes the cylinder ofthe engine.-

'12 indicates the steam-feed pipe, and 12" indicates the exhaust-pipe.In the inner side j of the'casing 11, at'the feed side thereof, is acircular-passage 1a, with which the pipe 12 communicates, thispassageextending around the casing just inward of the cylinder ll andbeing adapted to 'be kept constantly full of live steam.

15 indicates a corresponding passage at the exhaust side of the engine,which communi- 5 cates with the haust-steaml I In Fig. 3 the position ofthe exhaust-pipe 12 is indicated diagrammatically by the dotted lines insaid view. 16 indicates the onpipe 12 to carry oft the ex- IOOgine-shaft, which is mounted revolubly in the center of the casing 11and carried in boxes 17, having suitable supports 18 on the base andcasing 11 of the engine. The two pistons are designated 19 and-20,respectively. These pistons are of circular form and fit snugly withinthe cylinder 11, filling the entire cross-sectional area thereof. Saidpistons 19 and 20 are respectively fastened to the disks 21 and 22,which extend from the cylinder 11 inward to the shaft 16 and are mountedloosely thereon.

The clutch devices for connecting the disks 21 with the shaft 16 forfastening said disks to the casing 11 may be ofanysuitable form. Weprefer, however, to employ the construction shown in the drawings, whichwill now be described. A notched ring is movably mounted on the outerface of each disk 21 and 22, and in the notches of these rings arearranged clutch balls or rollers 23, said balls or rollers being adaptedto lock against the annular shoulders 36, formed inside of the casing 11respectively inward of the steam-ducts 14 and 15. Fastened to the disks21 and 22, at the outer sides thereof, are annular flanges or beads 37,which are suitably shaped on their outer peripheries to engage theclutch balls or rollers 23, so that when the flanges 37 turn in onedirection they will fasten the clutch balls or rollers to the casing andwhen the flanges 37 turn in the opposite direction said balls or rollerswill lie idly in the notches of the flange 35. To the shaft 16, at eachside of the disks 21 and 22, clutch-wheels 33 are fastened, and withthese clutch-wheels coact clutch-rollers 39, which are carried innotches formed in flanges 40 of disks 41, which lie in frictionalengagement with the outer sides of the disks 21 and 22 and inward of theclutchwheels 38, but in loose engagement therewith. The clutch-wheels 38are so formed on their peripheries that when the disks 21 or 22, withwhich one of the clutch-wheels is associated, turns in the direction torender the clutch balls or rollers 23 inactive he frictional movement ofthe parts 41 and 40 with the said disk willcause the clutch-rollers 39to bind between the ring or flange 37 and the elutchwheel 38, thusfastening said disk 21 or 22 to the shaft 16. Therefore by means of thedevices as above described when one of the disks 21 or 22 turns in onedirection it is bound against the casing and its movement is arrested,while the other disk is free to turn without restraint from the casing,but is at the same time coupled directly with the shaft 16. When themovements of the two disks are reversed the clutch action is alsoreversed.

42 indicates an arm provided to facilitate turning over the engine--thatis to say, giving the parts their initial movement when the steam isfirst admitted. This arm is attached to a clutch-ring 43, and said ringcarries rollers 44, which coact with one of the flanges 37. (See Figs.1, 5, 6, and 7.) This arm 42 may be connected with either one of the twoflanges 37; but we prefer to engage the clutch devices 43 and 44 withthe flange 37 at the steam-feed side of the engine.

The piston 20 is carried on the disk 22, being fastened suitably to theperiphery thereof, and the piston 19 is carried on the disk 21. The disk22 has its outer face arranged to run against the steam-feed duct 14,and said disk is formed at each side of the piston with a steam-chamber45. These chambers 45 communicate, respectively, with the steam-feedports 25 and 25, such ports opening into the cylinder 11, respectively,at the sides of the piston 20. Directly adjacent to the steam chambers45 are valve-piston chambers 46.

These cham bers lie,respectively,outward from chambers 45 and areadapted to be covered by steam-tight plates 47, one of which isillustrated at the lower side of Fig. 1. At the upper side of Fig. 1 itis assumed that the plate 47 for the valve-piston chamber 46 has beenremoved to disclose the interior parts.

43 indicates valves which are placed, respectively, in the steamchambers 45 and which serve to command the ports 25 and 25. These valves48 are attached to stems 49, which pass into the valve-piston chambers46 and carry therein the valve-pistons 50. By throwing the parts 48, 49,and 50 from the position shown at the top of Fig. 1 to that shown at thebottom of Fig. 1, and vice versa, the ports 25 and 25 may be opened andclosed, as desired. The valve-piston chambers 46 are completely closedfrom the steam-feed duct 14 by the cover-plates 47, steam being admittedinto these chambers 46 only through certain ports, as will behereinafterdescribed. The steam-chambers 45 are, however, continually indirect communication with the steanrduct 14, so that whenever the valves43 are opened steam passes into the cylinder 11.

The valves 48 are operated by a certain peculiar arrangement ofsteam-ports, which will now be described. Passing transversely throughthe disk 22 and leading respectively from the steam-chambers 45 areports 27 and Passing from the inner side of the disk 22 outward intocommunication with the piston-chambers 46 at one side of the pistons 50therein are steam-ports 27 and 30. At the opposite side of the pistons50 steam-ports 23 and 31 lead from the inner side of the disk 22 outwardinto the piston-chambers 46, and the ports 28 and 31 lead from the outerside of said disk 22 transversely to the inner side thereof. These ports27, 27,28, 28, 30, 30, 31, and 31 are shown bestin Figs. 1 and 4. Whensteam passes through the ports 27 and 30, it forces the pistons 50 awayfrom the engine-piston 20,and thus opens the valves 48, and when steampasses through the ports 28 and 31 the valves 48 are moved in theopposite direction. On the inner face of the disk 21 are formed ducts 27and 30",which are adapted to coact with the ports 27, 27, 30, and 30,andthe said disk 21 has on its inner face ports 28* and 31 ,which areadapted to coact with the ports 28,228, 31, and 31. The various ports ofthe disks are arranged in groups respectively occupying four concentricimaginary circles on the disks. These circles have been indicated by thebroken lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 and are designated,respectively, 00,1), 0, and d.

The ports 28, 28 31, and 31 are each arranged in the circle (1, and inorder that these ports shall register with the ports 28 and 31 the saidports 28 and 31 are also arranged in the circle 0. The ports 27, 27 30,and 30 are arranged in the circle cl, and in order that these portsshall register with the ducts 27 and 30 said ducts are arranged in thecircle d. Now, therefore, it will be observed that steam is continuallyunder pressure in the ports 28, 27, 30, and 31. When the piston 20 movesinto the position shown in-Fig. 1, it places'its two ports 27 and 27over the duct 27", and steam therefore passes through the port 27, duct27 and port 27 into the pistonchamber 46' and throws the upper valve inFig. 1 into the open position illustrated. Steam is then admittedthrough theport 25, and the piston 19 moves in'the direction of thearrow in'Fig. 1. The clutch mechanism of this piston 19 serves to fastenthe piston to the engine-shaft, and the clutch mechanism of thepiston 20serves to fasten said piston to the casing. The movement of the pistonand consequent movement of the shaft 16 continues until the duct 28' ofthe disk 21 (see Fig. 2) moves under the ports 28 and 28*. (See Fig. 1.)This allows the steam to pass from the port 28 through the duct 28 andport 28*, thus moving the aforesaid valve 48 back to closed position andcutting oi the steam. The steam now acts expansively on the piston 19until the proper exhaust-valve is opened, which exhaust-valve and itsoperating devices will be hereinafter described. The piston 19 willthen, it may be assumed, have completed nearly an entire movementthrough. the cylinder 11 and will lie below the piston 20 in theposition opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Then as the disk 21, movingwith the piston 19, runs the duct 30 under the ports 30 and 30 steamwill be permitted to pass from the port 30 through the duct 30 and port3O into the lower pistonchamber 46, (see Fig. 1,) and the lower valve 48will be thrown into open position, thus permitting steam to pass throughthe feedport 25*. The piston 20 will now be driven in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 1, and owing to the clutch devices of the'pistonthe shaft 16 will be accordingly turned; but the piston 19, having thesteam pressing thereon in the direction contrary to that indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 1, will be immediately clutched with the engine-casingand will act as an abutment for the steam-pressure. The movement of thepiston 20 will continue until the ports 31 and 31 are run over the duct31, and then these ports 31 and 31 being connected steam will bepermitted to pass through the port 31 into the lower piston -chamber 46(see Fig. 1) and the lower valve 48 will be returned to its closedposition, thus cutting ofl the steamfeed. The enginev will then workexpansively until the operation of the exhaust valves, as above referredto. tion it will be observed that the period of cut-off may be regulatedas desired by positioning the ducts 28 and 31 on the disk 21. 29indicates two ports which communicate with the piston-chambers 46 andpass inward to the inner side of the disk 22, these ports being for thepurpose of exhausting the steampressure from said piston-chambers. Theseports 29 are arranged in the circle I) and are adapted to communicatewith an exhaustduct 29 on the inner side of the disk 21 and lying in thecircle 6. This duct 29 has at each end a port passing laterally to theouter or exhaust side of the disk 21 and communicating with theexhaust-passage 15. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 7.) By these ports 29 and 29the piston-chambers 46 are kept exhausted of spent steam and needlesscushions are avoided.

Formed in the disk 22 and lying in the outermost circle a are two ports32 and 33, which pass transversely through the disk 22 and are adapted,respectively, to register with ports 32 and 33 in the disk 21, theseports 32 and 33 passing transversely through the disk 21 to lead steamto the exhaust-valve devices,

which will now be described. As shown best in Figs. 3 and 8, there areformed in the periphery of the disk 21 two ports 26 and 26,

which constitute the exhaust-ports, these municate with anexhaust-chamber 52, formed in the disk 21, and 53 indicates anexhaustvalve which is arranged to slide in this chamber 52 to theposition shown in Figs. 3 and 8, in which the port 26 is open,.or to aposition opposite this position, in which the port 26 willbe closed andthe port 26 open. Formed in the disk 21, adjacent to the exhaust-chamber52, is an exhaust-valve piston-chamber 54, which carries a piston 55,-this piston being connected with the valve 53 through the medium of astem56. The piston-chamber 54 is adapted tobe covered by a steam-tightplate 57, (see Fig. 3,) this platebeing orificed correspondingly to theexhaust-chamber 52.

In this connec- ICO IIO

In Fig. 8 it may be assumed that this plate .an opposite position. Inthe cover-plate 57 is formed a port 34, which is adapted to exhaust thesurplus steam from the piston-chamber 54. Assuming that the parts are inthe position shown in Fig. 8, when steam is ad-- mitted through the port33 the valve 53 will be moved to uncover the port 26, and after thisoperation has been effected the steam previously admitted through theport 33 will be exhausted through the opening or port 34. The valve 53is moved to the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 8 by steamadmitted to the port 32.

Recurring now to the description of the operation of the steam-feedvalves 48 and the various ports incident thereto,assuming that the partsare now in the position shown in Fig. 1 and that the piston 19 isbeginning its movement in the direction of the arrow in said view itwill be necessary to open the exhaust-port 26 by throwing the valve 53to the position shown in Fig. 8. To do this, the positions of thevarious parts are so timed that at this moment the port will registerwith the port 32 and the live steam from the passage 14; will passthrough the ports 32 and 3:2 into the pistonchamber 54:, and the valve53 will thus be thrown so as to open the port 26. The exhaust-valve willlie in this position until the piston 19 approximately finishes itsstroke, and then the port 33 will be moved into register with the port33, whereupon steam will pass through the ports 33 and 33 into thepiston-chamber 54 atthe opposite side of the valve-piston 55, and thevalve 53 will then be thrown into the position opposite to that shown inFig. 8, thus closing the exhaustport 26 and opening the port 26 Theorifice in the cover-plate 57 of the piston-chamber 54 communicatesdirectly with the exhaustduct 15, and thus the exhaust-steam is carriedoff.

In recapitulation,assuming that steam is steadily under pressure in thepipe 12 and chamber Li and that the disk 22 is given a partial turnmanually through the medium of the arm 42, as soon as the ports comeinto register, as above explained, steam will be admitted between thepistons 19 and 20. One of these pistons will then become fast to theengine-casing, and the other piston will perform a nearly completemovement through the cylinder 11. Then the second-named piston willbecome fast to the casing and the first-named piston will take up themovement of the second. This imparts a practically continuous revolutionto the shaft 16, one piston being moving and fast to the engineshaftwhile the other piston is fast to the casing and serving as an abutment.The operation of the various valves is wholly automatic, it being onlynecessary to turn on or oif the steam-supply,

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of ourinvention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. Hence we consider ourselves entitled to all such variations asmay lie within the scope of our claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. In a rotary engine, the combination with acasing having an interior shoulder at each side thereof, and a circularpassage forming a cylinder proper outward from said shoulders, of anengine-shaft mounted centrally of the casing, two disks loose on saidshaft, clutch devices carried by the disks, the clutch devices coactingwith the said shoulders of the casing and with the engine-shaft toconnect one disk with the shaft and to fasten the other to the casing,and vice versa, pistons carried respectively by the disks, and means foradmitting and exhausting the motive agent, the said clutches comprisinga clutch ring and rollers coacting with the internal shoulders of thecasing, a ring fast to the disk and coacting with the saidclutch-rollers, additional clutch rollers and ring having connectionwith the disk, and a clutch-wheel fastened to the engine-shaft andcoacting with the said additional rollers and ring.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a circular cylinder, acentrally-disposed shaft, two disks mounted to turn loosely on theshaft, a piston fastened to each disk, the pistons moving through thecylinder, clutch devices for the respective disks, said clutch devicesconnecting one disk with the engine-shaft as the other disk is connectedwith the cylinder, and vice versa, means for admitting and exhaustingthe steam, and a manually-operated member having connection with one ofthe disks and lying outside of the engine-casing to permit starting theengine.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a circular cylinder, acentrally-disposed shaft, two disks mounted to turn loosely on theshaft, a piston fastened to each disk, the pistons moving through thecylinder, clutch devices for the respective disks, said clutch devicesconnecting one disk with the engine-shaft as the other disk is connectedwith the cylinder, and vice versa, means for admitting and exhaustingthe steam, and a manually-operated member having connection with one ofthe disks and l in outside of the en 'ine-casin b b b to permit startingthe engine, said manuallyoperated member comprising an arm, a ringcarried thereby, and clutch-rollers actuated by the ring and engagingsaid part of the disk.

4. A rotary engine comprising a casing having a circular passageextending thereth rough and forming a cylinder proper, and also havingcircular interior ducts located inward of the passage and servingrespectively to receive the live and exhaust steam, two pistons mountedin the cylinder, two disks attached respectively to the pistons andarranged to turn in the casing, and valve devices for admitting andexhausting the steam, said valve devices lying respectively opposite thelive and exhaust steam ducts in the casing.

5. A rotary engine comprising acasing having a circular passageextending therethrough and forming a cylinder proper, and also havingcircular interior ducts located inward of the passage and servingrespectively to reexhaust ports, and the diskshaving registering portstherein, whereby to operate the valves by the pressure of the steam.

6. The combination of a circular cylinder, an engine-shaft mountedtherein, two disks loose on the shaft, clutch devices working betweenthe disks and the shaft, and between the disks and the cylinder, saiddevices fasten ing the disks to the shaft asthe disks turn in onedirection and fastening the disks to the cylinder as the disks turn inthe other direction and comprising means forming concentric circularsurfaces on' the disks, cylinder and shaft, and clutch-balls workingbetween said surfaces, pistons attached to the disks and moving throughthe cylinder,'and

means for admitting and exhausting the motive fluid.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE P. BREED.

EDD L. HAWN. 'Witnesses:

H. F. TOUSLEY, A. F. TOUSLEY.

